Container with mechanical cover lock



Aug. 1, 1961 w. c. GEORGE ETAL 2,994,468

CONTAINER WITH MECHANICAL COVER LOCK Filed Aug. 20, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J 4454 54 a4 55 44 36 15 3 t 65 FIG! 55 2 M175? C 65026: 2 0562614 3 M MI/W4 J/P.

- 1951 w. c. GEORGE ETAL 2,994,468

CONTAINER WITH MECHANICAL COVER LOCK Filed Aug. 20, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unite 2,994,468 CONTAINER WITH MECHANICAL COVER LOCK Walter C. George and Russell 3. Thimmig, .l'n, both of St. Louis, Mo, assignors to Crown Zellerbaeh Corporation, San Francisco, Calift, a corporation of Nevada Filed Aug. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 756,214 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) The invention relates to a novel mechanical lock for effectively securing the split covers of rectangular shipping containers in closed position, either singly or together against accidental or unintentional opening. The term mechanical lock as used herein denotes a positively engaged abutting relationship of the locking members as distinguished from a slidable frictional locking method.

More particularly the locking device may be applied to a variety of containers with cover members and is especially desirable for use with containers comprising connected together conventional pairs of opposed side and end walls, a bottom and split cover members hinged to and substantially co-extensive in length with the respective side walls. Each cover member has a downwardly folded flange on its side edge and the flange may have a reinforcing flap hinged to its outer edge secured in flatwise relation to the underface of the flange. Each cover member also has a downwardly folded flange on its end edge and an extension thereon connecting the side and end flanges in downward right angular relationship to each other. The end walls of the container have a vertical slot in their upper margins with a throat in its upper portion formed of constricting inward projections of the boundaries of the slot for receiving the corners formed of the right angularly connected side and end flanges of the split covers in their closed position. The end walls preferably have a reinforcing flap hinged to their top edges folded to form a plurality of reinforcing sections on the inner face thereof extending from their top edges to the upper boundary of handholes provided in the upper margins thereof.

The mechanical locking device comprises the combination of the throat or inwardly constricting projections in the upper portion of the slot in the end panel including any reinforcing sections thereof and an aligned recess in the underface of the corner formed by the cover member flanges corresponding in outline to a horizontal section of said constricting projections in the end panel slot, whereby as a cover member is closed, the right angularly connected downturned cover flanges snap over the throat in the end panel slot into locked position with the lower edges of said corner seating on the bottom boundary of the slot and simultaneously the said slot constricting projections seat in the aligned recess provided in the underface of the said corner of the cover member, mechanically locking either one cover alone or both covers in closed position against accidental or unintentional release.

In a preferred form of the invention the connecting extension integral with the end flanges of the cover may be reversely folded on itself and secured to the underface of the outer margin of the side cover flange, the end margins of the reinforcing flap of the side cover flange being reduced in length to provide space for the reversely folded connecting extension to be secured directly in flatwise relation to the end margin of the side cover flange. The extension has an aligned recess in its exposed ply located in the corner formed by the connected together side and end cover flanges into which the constricting end panel slot projections seat in the closed position of the cover with the upper portions of said constricting projections in positive engaged abutting relationship with the exposed inner ply of the reversely folded connecting extension. In this form of the in- 2994,46 Patented Aug. 1, 1961 vention the end cover flanges may be substantially coextensive in width with the split covers and seat in firm engagement with the outer face of the end panel in their closed position.

The end cover flanges of this form of the invention may be modified by reducing the length of the covers slightly and restricting the width of the end flanges to the outer portion of the cover member and providing a recess in the upper margin of the end panel into which the end flanges seat in firm engagement with the adjacent ply of the folded end wall exposed reinforcing flap in the closed position of the covers. In this modified form, when the covers are closed, the outer face of the end flanges will be in substantially the plane of the outer face of the end panel as disclosed in co-pending application of Walter C. George and Russell E. Thimmig, Ir., entitled One Piece Multi-Trip Rectangular Container, Serial No. 752,369, filed July 31, 1958. This modification of the end cover flanges does not affect the operation of the mechanical locking device, hereinbefore described, in any way and results in a desirable end construction of the container.

In a modified form of the invention the end cover flanges extend to substantially the width of the cover member and the connecting extension is positioned between the side cover flange and its reinforcing flap, securing the side and end flanges in downward right angular relation to each other. In this form of the invention the connecting extension is reduced in area to expose a portion of the side cover flange and, the end margin of the side cover reinforcing flap is slit to define a portion thereof similar in outline to the recess in the exposed ply of the reinforcing extension described in the first form of the invention hereinbefore described. As the cover members are closed, the constricting projections in the end panel slot force the slit portions of the side cover reinforcing flap inwardly into the void overlying the exposed portion of the side cover flange, forming a recess therein equivalent both in outline and function to the hereinbefore described recess in the exposed ply of the reversely folded extension.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical locking device for securing the split covers of a rectangular shipping container in closed position either singly or together against accidental or unintentional release and wherein said covers may be readily disengaged by well known cover opening equipment.

Another object is to provide means for securing the split covers of a rectangular shipping container in closed position, the said means comprising the cooperation of a vertical slot in the end panel of the container with a throat in its outer portion over which the covers snap and seat in the bottom of the slot as they are closed and a recess in the underface of the construction of the outer corner of the side covers, into which said throat portions in said slot simultaneously seat as the covers are closed, mechanically looking the covers in closed position.

A still further object is to provide in a conventional rectangular shipping container having connected together opposed side and end walls, a bottom, split covers hinged to the side walls, a mechanical cover lock comprising the combination of a slot in the end panel for receiving the corners formed by right angularly downwardly connected together side and end cover flanges, and a recess in the underface of the cover flange construction, said slot being constricted in its upper portion by inwardly facing projections of the boundaries thereof over which the corners formed by the connected together side and end flanges of the cover snap as the covers are closed and said constricting projections simultaneously seat in said recess in the cover flange construction, mechanically locking the covers in closed position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and upon a complete understanding of the construction and operation of the invention as hereinafter set forth.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and like numerals and symbols therein appearing refer to like parts wherever they occur.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the blank of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an end wall and a portion of the connected side wall or" the blank at the first stage of assembly of the end wall reinforcing flap;

FIGS. 3, 4 and illustrate the progressive stages of assembling the reinforcing flap;

FIGS. 2a, 3a, 4a: and 5a are vertical sections of the end wall flap at the progressive foldings corresponding to FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container with the end panel reinforcement and one of the split covers fully assembled and the other cover member in process of assembly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of one end of the assembled container with one of the split covers in process of closing;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of one end of the container with a portion broken away to show the flanges of the covers in closed position within the end panel slot;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation of one end of the fully assembled container;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the inner face of the container of FIG. 9 taken in the direction of the arrows 10-10;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the end of the container of FIG. 9 showing the assembled interior parts;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the interior corner construction of the assembled cover of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevation of the end panel illustrating the vertical slot in the end wall with the throat in its top portion.

The container is formed from a one piece blank, having opposed conventional end and side Walls, bottom flaps and split covers. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the blank of the invention indicated at 20. Longitudinal scores 21 and 22 define top and bottom edges of the end walls 27 and side walls 23 while transverse scores 23, 24, 2S and 26, define the connected side edges thereof. The outermost transverse score 26 also defines the hinge line of the glue flap 29. Score 21 also defines the hinge lines of end wall bottom flaps 3n and side wall flaps 31. The bottom flaps are separated by tapered slots 32 and handholes in the upper margin of the side walls are indicated at 33.

The end walls have vertical slots 34 in their top margins with a throat 35 in its outer portion formed of abrupt inward projections of the boundary of the slot. A reinforcing flap hinged to the upper end of the end walls is indicated at 36. The flap is scored progressively outwardly by a standard score 37, a cut score 38 and perforated score 39 dividing the flap into foldable sections 40, 41, 42 and 43. The split covers 45 are scored longitudinally at 48 and 5t}, defining cover flanges 49 and reinforcing flaps 51. The split covers have end flanges 52 and an outward connecting extension 53, separated from the side wall flanges 49 by a slot 56. The reinforcing flap 36 is separated from the side wall flanges 52 and extensions 53 by a slot 44.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are plan views which illustrate the progressive folding of the sections of the reinforcing flap 36 into a four ply reinforcement extending from the top edge of the end walls 27 to the upper boundary of the handhole 33. It should be noted that the several sections of the reinforcing flap have cutouts which, in

the completely folded position shown in FIG. 5, are in alignment with the slot 34 with its throat 35 in the top margin of the end panel. FIGS. 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a are vertical sections of the end panel and the r inforcing flap taken in the direction of the arrows 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a of the corresponding plan views of the end panel.

The outer portion 54 of extension 53 which is attached to the end flange 52 of the split covers of the container may be reversely folded over the inner portion thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2 and the reinforcing flap of the split cover flange 49 is shortened as at 57 to provide space for attaching the reversely folded extension 53 directly flatwise to the split cover flange 4-9. This construction of the end of the corner in progressive stages of assembly is illustrated in the perspective view of the container, FIG. 6. In this figure, one end of one of the split covers as is shown with the end flange 52 in extended position with the extension 53 reversely folded with cutout 55 on its underface and also extended with respect to the end flange 52. The other end of the same split cover shows the end flange 52 folded in right angular relation thereto and the extension 53 in right angular relation to the end flange 52, preparatory to attaching it to the side flange 49 of the cover, thereby securing the cover flanges in right angular relation to each other. The completion of this corner construction is shown in the other split cover of FIG. 6.

The end flanges of the split covers may extend to substantially the width of the end of the covers as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 and in the closed position thereof frictionally engage the outer face of the end panel.

In the hereinbefore described modified form of the invention wherein the end flanges of the split covers are restricted in width to the outer portion of the end of the cover member, the length of the split covers is reduced slightly so that the end flanges seat in the recess in the upper margin of the end panel, with their outer faces in substantially the plane of the outer face of the end panel, as disclosed in the hereinbcfore mentioned co-pending application of Walter C. George and Russell B. Thimmig, In, entitled One Piece Multi-Trip Rectangular Container, Serial No. 752,369, filed July 31, 1958.

In a further modified form of the invention, the reinforcing flap of the side flanges of the cover members extends the full Width of said flanges and the connecting extension from the end flanges of the covers is positioned between the side flanges and their reinforcing flaps, securing the side and end flanges in right angular relation to each other. In this form of the invention the side cover reinforcing flap is slit to define a portion similar in outline to the recess in the exposed ply of the reversely folded connecting extension hereinbefore described. In the closed position of the covers the slit portion is forced inwardly forming a recess equivalent both in form and function to the hereinbefore described recess.

The vertical section FIG. 7 shows one of the covers in the process of being snapped over the throat 35 of the end panel slot 34 into closed position. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the end of the container partly broken away to show both covers in closed position in the slot 34 while a perspective view of the end of the container, FIG. 9, shows the end flanges of the cover in their closed position in flatwise contact with the outer face of the end panel 27. FIGS. 10 and 11 are vertical sections of the end of the container showing the relation of the several parts with covers closed. FIG. 12 illustrates the corner construction of the cover flanges and the reversely folded connecting extension which secures them in right angular relation. The slot in the end walls and the four ply reinforcement with a smooth fold over the top of the end Wall is shown in FIG. 13.

The four ply reinforcement to the inner face of the end walls described therein has been found very satisfactory especially in connection with containers designed for packaging and shipping twenty-four bottles of beverages but it is to be understood that the number of plies of the reinforcement may be varied to meet the demands of the size and character of the contents of the container.

The locking device of the invention has many practical advantages; among them is the feature that it effectively locks either panel alone in closed position which is very desirable in the operation of some forms of automatic assembling machines. Another is the fact that the lock may be readily disengaged by automatic cover opening equipment.

It is understood that the particular embodiment of the invention described is illustrative and not restrictive and it is to be understood that the invention may be susceptible of embodiment in other modified forms, and that all such modifications which are similar or equivalent hereto come equally within the scope of the claims next appearmg.

In the claims:

1. A mechanical locking device for securing similar split cover members of a rectangular container in closed position, the cover members each having side and end flanges secured together in downward right angular relation, said device comprising the combination of inward constricting projections in the upper portion of the side boundaries of a vertical slot in each end wall of the container for receiving the cover flange corners of each split cover member in the closed position thereof, and a recess corresponding to said projections in the innerface of the side flange of each cover member adjacent its corners in alignment, when the cover is closed, with one of said slot constricting projections and each of the outer flange corners of a cover member snapping over said projection and said projection seating in the said cover flange recess when the cover is closed, mechanically locking the cover against accidental release.

2. The locking device set forth and claimed in claim 1, wherein reinforcing flaps on the side cover flanges are reduced in length in respect to the side cover flange and extensions on the end cover flanges are reversely folded on themselves and secured to the end margins of the side flanges and the aligned recess for receiving the constricting projections of the end panel slot is formed in the corner of the exposed ply of said connecting extension.

3. In a rectangular shipping container having connected together conventional pairs of opposed side and end walls, a bottom, split covers hinged to the side walls with downwardly folded flanges hinged to their side and end edges and connected together in right angular relation and an end panel with a multi-ply reinforcement on its inner face above handholes provided in the upper margin thereof; a device for mechanically locking the covers in closed position comprising a recess in the outward corner of the underf ace of the covers slightly greater in width than the combined thickness of the reinforcing plies on the end panel in cooperation with an abrupt constriction in the upper portion of a slot in the end panel formed by inwardly facing projections of the side boundaries of the slot, the outer corner of the connected together ends of the cover flanges snapping over said constriction and seating on the bottom of the slot in closed position, while simultaneously the inwardly facing projections of the end panel slot seat in the recess on the underface of the outer corner of the cover, thereby mechanically locking the covers in closed position against accidental opening.

4. The container set forth and claimed in claim 3 wherein the side flanges are substantially coextensive in length with the covers and have reinforcing flaps reversely folded flatwise against the underface of the side flanges and the end flanges are substantially coextensive in length with the width of the cover and have an outward extension on their outer ends positioned between the side flanges and their reinforcing flaps, securing the cover flanges in right angular relation to each other.

5. The container set forth and claimed in claim 4 wherein the extension on the outer end of the end cover flange is reversely folded on itself and the end margins of the reinforcing flap of the side flange of the cover is reduced in length and the reversely folded extension secured directly to the side cover flange, the recess in the underface of the outward corner of the cover being formed in the exposed ply of the reversely folded extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,336 Boeye May 3, 1938 2,373,977 Scherer Apr. 17, 1945 2,545,802 Bergstein Mar. 20, 1951 2,577,248 James Dec. 4, 1951 2,865,554 Repking et a1. Dec. 23, 1958 

